Montana Trip – Advice?
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Hey guys, i got invited along on a long weekend fishing out of West Yellowstone the last weekend in july.
Eric,
Since your going to West I suspect you’ll be fishing in the park. If you don’t want to spend more $$ for a Montana license and leverage the $$ spent for the park license, then you can spend a few days at the begining of you trip in Gardiner and have some pretty neat fishing in both the Gardner River or the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone. By the end of July the Y will be in pretty good shape and there is a great chance of catching big salmon flies in the Canyon at this time of year.
Gardiner is a great little town to stay in for a few days and provides good access to the Lamar Valley (Lamar, Soda Butte and Slough) if you want to fish with the crowds. If you want solitude–The Gardner River is right there in town, the Black Canyon below Knowles Falls is not really that difficult to access from Gardiner and provides some dynamite Cutt and Brown fishing if you are willing to hike a bit. I’ve fished these areas in late July after runoff and the fishing has always been great with no crowds.
Black Canyon just above Gardiner-September 2006
Lower Gardner River – September 2006Checkout: http://parksflyshop.com/. Walter Wiess has a lot of info about the Canyon and the Gardner on the site. You’ll find Gardiner a bit cheaper than West and it gives you an opportunity to see some more of the park on your way to West.
I just drove through that area yesterday and it looks really ugly-super high and chocolate milk with a lot of snow still up top.
Eric,
You can do the second meadow of Slough in a day, but it is a very long day, about 5 miles each way.
There is plenty of great fishng near West and any of the fly shops there can put you on great water. Check every morning for latest reports. Blue Ribbon Flies in West published a weekly email with reports of what is happening – check their website for how to subscribe.
You are also close to the Henry’s Fork (45 minute drive) – the railroad ranch can be tough but it is classic dry fly water, certainly worth considering if you want to drive over for the day.
If time and money permit, get a guide for a day and float the Box Canyon or the Madison – great way to cover lots of water and catch lots of fish.
I’m jealous – it will be a great trip – Have Fun!
Eric, there are not enough waking hours in a full season to adequately fish the waters that will surround you.
Here are my suggestions based on the hatches:
If wading in:
Henry’s Fork—-lower stetches of the Ranch if you want your skills tested—-Wood Road 16 fishing the braided riffles and spotting bows off the bluffs.
If PMDs are thick, go below Ashton and enjoy the swarms of bugs on flat wade in water with little competition.Madison: wade in anywhere access allows you, but expect crowds and drift boat hatches.
Hebgen gulpers–may be a little early for ’em…and you need a boat. Gotta get there early and wait for the Spinner fall by late morning. Tons of fun, but it’s a waiting game.
Henry’s Lake: Gotta have a boat, and some big Scuds and leech patterns—-but the fish aren’t hard to find, 20+ inch fish are the norm, and 10+ lb cut bows are abundant.
Park: You’ll be tempted to fish the waters on the West side due to Proximity—but take the drive and go further to the Yellowstone R. or Slough, Lamar, etc.
Have fun, and expect the dilemma of too many options.
Travis
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